Winter is a great time to take a stroll and appreciate the conifers along the trails at the Arb and Gardens. If you wish to avoid the chill of winter, stop into the Conservatory at the Gardens to experience the sights and smells of plants from all over the world.Check out the bloom calendar.

study spots

Looking for a location to hold a group meeting? We have some of the University's best study spots.

Matteson Farmstead & Historic Farmhouse

Barn at the historic homestead site at Mattahei Botanical Gardens. This barn was built in the mid to late 19th centruy.

The current Matteson farmhouse dates to the 1860s and occupies the site of a settlement-era home that is no longer there. The two historic barns were built at different dates: the smaller is circa 1845-1865 while the larger barn dates from 1875-1900. Currently these architecturally significant and iconic buildings are closed to the public, but visitors on the Marilyn Bland Prairie trail are welcome to examine the barn exterior. All the stone and timber for these buildings came from the site, which makes this grouping a truly local architecture and a treasured part of our cultural heritage. Not surprisingly, both bats and snakes are sometimes seen around the barns.

The farmhouse is a private residence—please keep to the Marilyn Bland Prairie Trail and respect the residents' privacy.

The Matteson Farmstead & Historic Farmhouse are at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens site.